Notice of Intent to Sole Source Physical Property Measurement System Service
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price purchase order to Quantum Design, Inc. for Physical Property Measurement System Services. This requirement involves critical maintenance for the Quantum Design USA Dynacool system at NIST's Boulder, CO facility. Interested parties must demonstrate their capability to meet the requirement by March 23, 2026, to potentially prevent a sole source award.
Purpose
NIST requires timely maintenance for its Quantum Design USA Dynacool system (rm 1-3325) to validate and verify material properties for projects involving superconductors and single photon detectors. This service is essential to prevent project delays within the Boulder microfabrication facility.
Scope of Work
- Cryocooler Maintenance: Exchange of the cryocooler set for a refurbished unit to restore cooling power.
- On-site Service: Vendor engineer travel to NIST in Boulder, CO, for maintenance service.
- Software Delivery: Provision of necessary software on USB/disk or via electronic delivery.
- Cold Head Service: Includes 20,000 operating hours service for the cryocooler cold head (Dynacool S/N D197).
- Special Requirement: Maintenance must be performed by the original equipment vendor, Quantum Design, Inc., as no other third-party vendors are identified as capable of providing this specialized service.
Contract Details
- Type: Notice of Intent to Sole Source (Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order)
- Intended Awardee: Quantum Design, Inc. (San Diego, CA)
- NAICS Code: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (Size Standard: 1,000 employees)
- Set-Aside: None specified (sole source)
- Estimated Award Date: April 15, 2026 (if competitive procedures are not used)
- Place of Performance: NIST, Boulder, CO.
Response Requirements
This is not a solicitation. Interested parties who believe they can satisfy the requirement must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability in writing. Responses will be used solely to determine if competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition.
Deadlines & Contact
- Response Due: March 23, 2026, by 4:00 PM MT
- Contact: de Ionne Jones (deionne.jones@nist.gov)
- Published: March 16, 2026